Excavating machine

ABSTRACT

An excavating machine of the raise boring type in which a frame is provided with skids fixed to the back thereof for movement of the machine when in horizontal position. The frame has columns on which cross heads are mounted with one of the cross heads having a motor driven chuck for gripping drill pipe. Fluid motors are connected in operatively serial relation between a base member forming a part of the frame and the cross head carrying the chuck. The fluid motors comprise cylinders which are fixed to an intermediate cross head also slidable on the columns between the base and the cross head that carries the chuck.

United States Patent [191 Lupton et al.

[ Nov. 26, 1974 3,780,816 12/1973 Arrington et a1. 173/152 Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Assistant ExaminerWilliam F. Pate, III Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Melvin A. Crosby [5 7 ABSTRACT An excavating machine of the raise boring type in which a frame is provided with skids fixed to the back thereof for movement of the machine when in horizontal position. The frame has columns on which cross heads are mounted with one of the cross heads having a motor driven chuck for gripping drill pipe. Fluid motors are connected in operatively serial relation between a base member forming a part of the frame and the cross head carrying the chuck. The fluid motors comprise cylinders which are fixed to an intermediate cross head also slidable on the columns between the base and the cross head that carries the chuck.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures EXCAVATING MACHINE The present invention relates to excavating machinery and is particularly concerned with an excavating machine of the raise boring type.

Raise boring machines are machines adapted for drilling a pilot hole and for then drawing a reaming cutter along the axis of the pilot hole to enlarge it to a desired size and which may be several feet in diameter. Such machines are quite often used in underground locations in a mine, and it is of advantage that the machines be as compact as possible so as to be able to work in relatively small spaces.

It is also desirable for the machines to have as long a stroke as possible in order to facilitate drilling operations and permit use of pieces of drill pipe of maximum length.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an excavating machine, more specifically, a raise boring machine, which is relatively compact but which has improved performance characteristics.

The foregoing object as well as still other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the following detailed specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a raise boring machine according to the present invention adjusted to maximum heighth.

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 but shows the machine collapsed to minimum heighth.

FIG. 3 is a plan view looking down on top of the machine.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the machine.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the machine showing it in collapsed condition for moving.

FIG. 6 is'an end view of the machine in collapsed position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Connected between this cross head and the base member of the frame are hydraulic motors in serial relation with the cylinders of the hydraulic motors fixed together and connected to a further cross head disposed between the cross head carrying the chuck and the base member.

The base member is adapted for pivotal connection to a pair of supporting foot members which are, in turn,

adapted for being fixedly connected to the earth or to concrete pad means poured in place where the machine is to be used. A screw arrangement between the feet and the base member of the machine provide for tilting of the frame of the machine to a desired angle relative to the surface on which the foot members of .the machine rest. When the machine is to be transported, it is tilted backwardly so as to rest on the skids, and in this position can readily be moved about by the use of a draft device such as a tractor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As will ,be seen in the drawings, the raise boring machine comprises a frame part having a lower frame member 10 and an upper frame member 12. Extending vertically between the frame members 10 and 12 at the rear thereof and in laterally spaced relation are skid members 14 and 16.

Also extending vertically between frame members 10 and 12 and disposed a short distance forwardly of skid members 14 and 16 are cylindrical guide members, or columns, 18 and 20.

Slidably guided on guide members 18 and 20 is a lower crosshead 22 and an upper crosshead 24. Upper crosshead 24 carries a drive motor 26 which is connected by gearing with a rotatable chuck 28. The gearing provides forthe driving of chuck 28 .in opposite directions and at selected speeds. The axis of rotation of the chuck is parallel to the axis of guide columns 18 and 20 and is disposed laterally therebetween and, in the fore and aft direction, is disposed forwardly of the plane of the axes of the guide columns.

Lower crosshead 22 has fixed thereto on each side a central cylinder 30 and a pair of other cylinders 32 and 34 disposed in front of and to the rear, respectively, of cylinder 30 and advantageously coplanar therewith in the fore and aft direction. Cylinders 30 are preferably copIanar with the axis of chuck 28.

Frame members 10 at each side of the machine comprise a pair of laterally spaced arms 36 extending forwardly from the respective frame member 10, and cylinders 30 have piston rods 38 extending downwardly therefrom and pivotally connected to the respective pair of arms 36 therebeneath by the pivot means indicated at 40.

The cylinders 32 and 34, on the other hand, have piston rods 42 and 44, respectively, extending therefrom in the upward direction and pivotally connected to a cross member 25 as at 46 and 48. Cross member 25, in turn, is pivotally connected to upper crosshead 24 at 47 and 49.

The aforementioned frame member 10 is pivotally connected by a pivot means 50 with the rear ends of a pair of base, or foot, members 52 extending in the fore and aft direction at the bottom of the frame and at the forward ends having pivots 54 to which are connected the lower ends of upwardly extending screws 56. Each screw carries a respective nut 58 which is provided with trunnions 60 pivotally mounted in the forward ends of the respective pair of arms 36.

The provision of the cylinder and piston rod arrangement referred to permits substantial vertical movement of upper cross member 25, together with crosshead 24 which is connected thereto, in the machine frame as, for example, from the FIG. 1 position thereof which shows the machine in fully extended position to the FIG. 2 position thereof which shows the machine in fully retracted position.

The pivotal connections of the piston rods with the crossheads allows some deflection of the machine parts under load without imposing severe strains on the various elements of the machine.

The skid members 14 and 16 are of benefit because the machine can be tilted backwardly to rest on the skid members, as shown in FIG. 5, with the base members 52 removed therefrom, and the machine will be relatively compact so that it can be moved along restricted mine passageways without difficulty.

The base, or foot, members 52, when the machine is in use, may rest on foundation members 62 which may, for example, consist of reinforced concrete with bolts 64 securing the base members to the foundation members. The foundation members 62 may be laterally spaced so that a drill pipe 66 connected to chuck 28 will have free passage therethrough in both axial directions, or may be in the form of a single large pad.

The machine according to the present invention has been described in connection with raise boring operations, but it will be apparent that the machine is usable in other types of excavating operations as well. For example, the machine can drill in the downward direction and form large holes as well as drill downwardly to form small holes and then enlarge the holes by reaming in the opposite direction.

It is also evident that the machine frame can be tilted to any desired angle from vertical to horizontal and drill in any desired direction. It will, furthermore, be evident that the chuck of the machine could be so arranged as to receive a drill pipe at either the bottom or the top and in which case the machine could perform drilling operations in an upward direction at any desired angle.

When the machine is tilted to an extreme angle, it is preferable for some additional support to be supplied thereto in addition to that provided by the base and the foundation members to which the base is connected.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drilling machine, especially a compact machine for use in mining operations; a frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced columns, a base member extending laterally between and fixed to the lower ends of said columns, and a frame member extending laterally between and fixed to the upper ends of said columns, upper and lower crossheads slidably guided on said columns, a motor driven chuck rotatably supported on said upper cross head, first cylinder-piston means having first piston means connected to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom and first cylinder means in which said first piston means is reciprocable, and second cylinder-piston means having second piston means operatively connected to said upper cross-head and extending downwardly therefrom and second cylinder means in which said second piston means is reciprocable, the axes of said cylinder-piston means being parallel to said columns, said first and sec ond cylinder means being disposed in parallel adjacent relation and being at least partially coextensive in the axial direction, said lower cross-head being fixedly connected to and supporting said first and second cylinder means and being slidably guided on said columns for movement thereon between said upper crosshead and said base member, the upper ends of said second piston means being disposed forwardly of said frame member and passing thereby during operation of said machine.

2. A drilling machine according to claim 1 in which said upper and lower crossheads project outwardly in one direction from the plane of the axes of said columns, said chuck being located midway between the columns in a first plane perpendicular to the plane of the axes of said columns and being spaced from the plane of the axes of said columns in said one direction, said cylinder-piston means comprising a pair of first cylinders connected to said lower crosshead and in a plane parallel to the axis of said chuck and on opposite sides of the chuck and first pistons in said first cylinders and having the lower ends connected to said base means, a pair of second cylinders connected to said lower crosshead and parallel to and adjacent each first cylinder, a second piston in each second cylinder having the upper end operatively connected to said upper crosshead, said cylinders being fixedly attached to said lower crosshead in axially overlapping relation.

3. A drilling machine according to claim 2 in which each first cylinder and the said second cylinders adjacent thereto and the adjacent one of said columns are substantially coplanar in a respective fore and aft plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the axes of the columns.

4. A drilling machine according to claim 2 which includes skid members parallel to said columns and extending between and fixed to said base means and said frame member and spaced from the columns on the side opposite said chuck, said skid members forming the rearwardmost part of the machine and slidably engaging the ground when said machine is inclined rearwardly to a horizontal position.

5. A drilling machine according to claim 2 which includes a cross member having an upper region connected to the upper ends of said second pistons and a lower region dependent between said second pistons and connected to said upper crosshead.

6. A drilling machine according to claim 5 in which said cross member is disposed forwardly of said frame member and said upper region is pivotally connected to the upper ends of said second pistons and said lower region is pivotally connected to said upper crosshead, said cross member passing by said frame member in moving between uppermost and lowermost positions. 

1. In a drilling machine, especially a compact machine for use in mining operations; a frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced columns, a base member extending laterally between and fixed to the lower ends of said columns, and a frame member extending laterally between and fixed to the upper ends of said columns, upper and lower crossheads slidably guided on said columns, a motor driven chuck rotatably supported on said upper cross head, first cylinder-piston means having first piston means connected to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom and first cylinder means in which said first piston means is reciprocable, and second cylinder-piston means having second piston means operatively connected to said upper cross-head and extending downwardly therefrom and second cylinder means in which said second piston means is reciprocable, the axes of said cylinder-piston means being parallel to said columns, said first and second cylinder means being disposed in parallel adjacent relation and being at least partially coextensive in the axial direction, said lower cross-head being fixedly connected to and supporting said first and second cylinder means and being slidably guided on said columns for movement thereon between said upper crosshead and said base member, the upper ends of said second piston means being disposed forwardly of said frame member and passing thereby during operation of said machine.
 2. A drilling machine according to claim 1 in which said upper and lower crossheads project outwardly in one direction from the plane of the axes of said columns, said chuck being located midway between the columns in a first plane perpendicular to the plane of the axes of said columns and being spaced from the plane of the axes of said columns in said one direction, said cylinder-piston means comprising a pair of first cylinders connected to said lower crosshead and in a plane parallel to the axis of said chuck and on opposite sides of the chuck and first pistons in said first cylinders and having the lower ends connected to said base means, a pair of second cylinders connected to said lower crosshead and parallel to and adjacent each first cylinder, a second piston in each second cylinder having the upper end operatively connected to said upper crosshead, said cylinders being fixedly attached to said lower crosshead in axially overlapping relation.
 3. A drilling machine according to claim 2 in which each first cylinder and the said second cylinders adjacent thereto and the adjacent one of said columns are substantially coplanar in a respective fore and aft plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the axes of the columns.
 4. A drilling machine according to claim 2 which includes skid members parallel to said columns and extending between and fixed to said base means and said frame member and spaced from the columns on the side opposite said chuck, said sKid members forming the rearwardmost part of the machine and slidably engaging the ground when said machine is inclined rearwardly to a horizontal position.
 5. A drilling machine according to claim 2 which includes a cross member having an upper region connected to the upper ends of said second pistons and a lower region dependent between said second pistons and connected to said upper crosshead.
 6. A drilling machine according to claim 5 in which said cross member is disposed forwardly of said frame member and said upper region is pivotally connected to the upper ends of said second pistons and said lower region is pivotally connected to said upper crosshead, said cross member passing by said frame member in moving between uppermost and lowermost positions. 